Tailpiece mute for stringed musical instruments



Aug. 4, 1931. R. R. PAGE 1,817,461

TAILPIECE MUTE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed June 19, 1 2? 1 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.1

12206122213 Rob crifiufqe ATTORNEY R. R. PAGE Aug. 4, 1931.

',81 :4 TAILPIECE MUTE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Fi led June 19 1929 3 Sheets-Shee t .2

fnz/eniar; Eab eri'fi. Faye BY b ATTORNEY Aug. 4, 1931. R. R. PAGE 1,817,461

TAILIIECE MUTE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed June 19, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3,,

f F 4 I Y 76 7a 1122/ eni'vr; jiolaeflflifd e Patented Aug. 4, 1931 UNITED STATES ROBERT E. PAGE OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TAILBIECE MUTE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Application filed June 19,

The present invention relates to mutes for stringed musical instruments, and has for its principal object the provision of a bridge engaging mute which, while in engagement ,1 with the bridge for muting purposes, is independently supported upon a non-resonant portion of the instrument, in the present in stance such support being shown as the rim of a banjo.

10 One of the main objects of the present invention is the provision of a mute in which the bridge of the musical instrument, of the type herein shown, may be simultaneously gripped from both sides of the bridge and 16 without touching any other resonant portion of the instrument.

Another object is the provision of means, for manually and instantly setting or releasing said mute so that between phrases of music, or when desired, the mute may be readily applied or removed.

Another object is to'provide a mute which may be permanently affixed to a musical instrument inready position for manipulation without normally affecting the full tonal value of the instrument when the mute is nonoperative.

Another object is to provide the manipulating means in close association with the players hand so that the player may quickly apply or remove the mute with a slight movement of the hand and without interference of playing sequence.

Another object is to provide a mute. which is a permanent part of the instrument and will be in ready position for instant application but is in out of the way position, and does not interfere with the normal operation of the instrument when being played without the mute.

Another object of the invention is to supply a mute which, when afiixed to the instrument, as described, will position the bridge upon the instrument at the proper nodal point or bridge position for different instruments of any size whereby the bridge will be placed at the most advantageous resonant position upon the body of the instrument, such positioning being provided'forin the structure of the mute.

1929. Serial No. 321,982.

Another object of the, invention is, to provide, between a permanently aflixed mute and the instrument aflixing means, means whereby the mute is aflixed to the non-resonant portion of an instrument wherein the mute relative to the axis of the instrument and also permitting the elevation or lowering ofthe mute relative to the stringed plane.

Another object is to provide aplurality of muting aws for the mute mechanism which are made of dififerent substances and interchangeable so as to bereadily mounted upon the instrument when such different modulations of tone are required; I have discovered that the jaws, as will hereinafter be outlined in detail, may be made of various materials such as metal, metal with wood facing, celluloid or similar materials, or said jaws may be made from wood with cork-facings and numerous other variations, ,as will be. described hereinafter.

Another object, is to supply a mute which is. normally a. part of, or, combined with, the tail piece of a stringed musical instrument, so that, when desired, the tail piece mute combination may be readily aifixed to the instrument by substituting the herein device for the ordinary tail piece, as furnished. This does away with the necessity of providing special mute mounting means or ap purtenances upon the instrument, and pro vides a ready means. for quickly attaching our device.

Wherever, throughout the present disclosure, a musical instrument is mentioned, it is to be understood that any stringed musical instrument capable of receiving my device in desired operative mounting, is intended.

It is obvious that modifications may be made in the structure herein disclosed without departing from the spirit thereof or th scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view, in plan, of a musical instrument, in the present instance a banjo, showing the mute in its operative relation upon such instrument, the mute being located relative to the bridge of the instrument and in open non-muting position.

Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof showing one mode of attachment to the instrument.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mute similar to that shown in Fig. 1 but enlarged. and removed from the instrument for a better showing.

Fig. 4: shows an end view of the gripping means forwardly of the bridge and exterior thereto.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55, Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view showing the opposed muting jaws in muting or bridge gripping posit1on.

1g. 1 1s a detail of the mute supporting slide.

Fig. 8 is a front end view thereof.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the lower jaw carrying slide.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation thereof.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the upper jaw carrying slide.

Fig. 12 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the actuating lever.

Fig. 14: is a side view thereof.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of a modified form of mute in non-operative position.

Fig. 16 is a similar view showing the modification in muting engagement with the bridge.

Fig. 17 is a side view thereof, the latter three views showing a fragmentary portion of a banjo therewith.

Fig. 18 is a plan view of the base plate or support for the modified mute.

Fig. 19 is a plan view of the bridge muting jaws separated to show mutual relationship and structural details, and Fig. 20 is a fragmentary view showing adjustability of tail piece and mute.

In Figs. 1 to 14 inclusive there is shown one form of mute and in Figs. 15 to 19 in elusive is shown another modification. In essential details and in the mode of operation, both of these devices are similar and function about the same to the extent that both of them are permanently attached to the banjo, are instantly applied, or rendered nonmuting, both have a pair of opposedly acting bridge gripping jaws and are aflixed to a tail piece for coordination therewith, thus base or support 7 and best shown in Figs.

eliminating special means for mounting to an instrument.

In Fig. 1 there is shown one form of a banjo 1, only sufficient details of the banjo being shown, for full understanding. The usual finger board 2, the vellum or head 3, the bridge a and the tail piece 5 are all shown with the strings 6 thereon.

For the purpose of providing av suitable means for attachment of our device to the banjo, the mute is shown throughout as being mounted in conjunction with, or as an integral part of, the instrui'nent tail piece 5.

In the modification in Figs. 1 to 141 inclusive, the mute is shown as comprising a slide t and S in separated detail, and also in Figs. 3 and 5. The rear end of this base support is T- shaped as at 8 and has a pair of support lugs 9 thereon which are bored at 20 to receivably mount therein a pair of offset bent rod supports 11. The lugs are further provided with threaded screws 19- which are entered into threaded holes 13 for locking the portion 8 upon said rods 11 in any desired or nodal position, suitable to the diameter of the banjo head to which the mute is applied.

The rear ends of the support rods 11 are bent at right angles as at 11a and are threaded as at it, and are received into a pair of lugs 15 which are formed on the rear of the tail piece 5, as in Fig. 2. The threaded ends 14 are further provided with nut-s 16 which act as jam or look nuts to hold the rods 11 in desired and adjustable mute holding position upon the banjo rim. Thus, as will be noted, the mute proper and mute supporting means comprising the rods 11 and slide plate 7 become a part of and are adjustably afiixed to and held to the banjo by the tail piece 5.

At the rear of the tail piece 5, Figs. 1, 2 and 20, there is shown a pair of spaced adjusting screws 5 which, in-conjunction with the tail piece holding screw 16 which is suitably atfixed at its lower end by lock nuts to the tone band 3, form a three-point suspen sion and locking means for the said tail piece. \Vhen it is desired to throw the tail piece from one side to the other or to adjust it axially of the vellum 3, one of the screws 5 may be adjusted inwardly and the other outwardly, thus throwing the tail piece and mute from one side of the diameter to the other in the desired direction.

Further, by adjusting both screws 5 forwardly toward the banjo head, the tail piece 5 will be thrown backwardly, thus elevating the tail piece and its carried mute elements by springing the same upwardly from the dotted position shown at A, in Fig. 20, to the full position shown at B, in Fig. 20. The tail piece being resilient, it can be so sprung without harmful effect. Thus, it will be noted that the tail piece and mute are provided with means for adjusting vertically and angularly the position of the mute and tail piece, as is desired.

The slide support 7 is further provided on opposite sides with a pair of upright, integral, slide guides 17, Fig. 7, these two members forming guides for the jaw carrying slide plates 18 and 19, Figs. 9 and 11. The slide plate 7 is further provided, as shown at the right side Figs. 7 and 8, with an offset bent ear lug 20 which has a bore 21 therein upon which to pivotally mount, for oscillating movement, a hand operated throw lever 21 which is shown in two positions in Fig. 3, one position in full lines, and the dotted position at A showing the lever in its upward position for muting the instrument and by closing the bridge engaging jaws 22 and 23, Fig. 6.

The lower slide, Fig. 9, is first mounted into the slide support 7 between the guides 17 and then the upper slide 19, Fig. 11, is placed thereover. The central slots 24 and 25 in the up er and lower jaw carrying slide plates 18 an 19 then register with a tapped hole 26 and into which is introduced a headed holding screw 27, Fig. 3, thereby to hold, assembled, the two slides in slide operating position. In such position'this leaves the upper or shorter guide 19 with its offset bent jaw carrying flange 27a, in the position shown at Fig. 3 to the rear of the brid e 4, shown dotted, with the longer slide witi its upstanding jaw carr ing flange 28 in a position opposite to the ange 27a and on the opposite side of the bridge 4, Fig. 3. In the position shown in Fig. 3, the flanged front edge of'the longer lower slide 18 passes underneath the string bridge through the opening B between the feet C thereof.

As a means for operating the slides simultaneously to open from the bridge or to close thereupon, the lower slide 18 is provided with a pin hole 29 into which enters a pin 30 located upon the lower side of the slide op erating lever 31. Figs. 13,14 and 3. As this pin has to pass through the upper slide plate 19, this latter plate is provided with an elongated slot 32 to permit of relative slide movement of both upper and lower slides.

To move upper slide 19, which rests upon lower slide 18, the upper slide is provided with a pin hole 33, Fig. 11, which receives lever pin 34, also mounted on the under side of lever 31. This pin is shorter than pin 30. Lever 31 is bored as at 35 to receive the pivoting screw 27 whereby to hold the lever 31 and the two slide plates in operative locations, but in movable relations.

The lever 21 is pivotally mounted to the support 7 by a threaded shoulder screw 36 and which is held to lug 20 by the tapped hole 21. The lever is further provided with a cam face 37, Fig. 3, upon which the outer end of the lever 31 rides, thereby to oscillate lever 31 as shown in Fig. 3. Thus, hand lever 21' causes the two upper and lower slides to move their jaw carrying flanges 27 a and 28 to and from each other, and when in bridge muting grasp as in Fig. '6, to be jammed tightly against release by the curved cam seat 37 on lever 21, as in the dotted position.

When the lever 21 is moved from the jammed or locked position A, Fig. 3, a tortionally and terminally U-shaped return spring 38 having its fulcrumed end caught in a notch 39 on one flange 17, and which is coiled about screw 27, with its other end caught in a notch 40 in the lever 31 causes the return of the slides quickly to nonmuting position shown in Fig. 3, in full lines.

As a means for intimate contact with the bridge 4, for modified muting, according to desire, there is shown in various of the figures a pair of removable jaws 41, 42. These are made with bridge contact faces E outstanding on one member 41 and with an eX- tended face F, on jaw 42, this latter face being extended beyond the normal jaw line To as (tjo enter the space B between the bridge egs The sides of the extension F are sloping, as at G, to cause the said extension to expandably engage the inside surfaces of the bridge legs, thus to firmly grip and position the same, simultaneously with the bridge face gripping action of the extension faces E on jaw 41.

The two jaws are each further provided with means, such as extending headed pins 45, integral therewith, whereby the said pins may be introduced into key hole shaped slots 46 in the flanges 27a, 28 of both jaw carrying slides 18 and 19, and there removably held in operative position. The jaw members 41 and 42 may be made of various kinds of materials, as each such material, as previously mentioned, has a different sound modulation, during muting application. It is intended, in practice, to furnish these jaws, in a case, in as many sets of varied materials as desired, thus enabling the player to select whatever he may desire for obtaining various tonal effects.

As a means for permitting the foregoing described mute to different sized banjos, as a sort of universal attachment, the rods 11, Fig. 1, are provided with a series of mute locating notches 50 on the inside face thereof. These notches are located at predetermined spacings along the length thereof to form spots or seats for the reception therein of the lock screws 12 carried by the support plate 7.

Thereby, if the structure herein disclosed is mounted upon a banjo of larger or smaller diameter than herein shown, the mute end of the device may be moved backwardly or forwardly along the rods 11 and when the ends of set screws 12 are located to the notches and tightened, the jaws 41, 42 of the mute are in true nodal, bridge gripping position modified form of the previously outlined mute. Many features of construction herein embodied function the same as those details described for the previously outlined mute.

The banjo tail piece 5 in the present in stance has been integ 'alized with the mute support plate 7. The rear of the tail piece, which as in the previous described device, supports string hitch pins and means for mounting the device to a banjo, all too well known to require detailed description, but fully shown.

The tail piece 5 and support 7 are best shown in the stripped plan view, Fig. 18, wherein only a fragment of the tail piece is shown. The support 7, which is an integral extension of tie tail piece and extends forwardly thereof in the same plane, is provided with a central slot 5i, a tapped shouldered screw receiving bore and a reduced e tending tapered end 56. On the outer extremity of the tapered end is located an upstanding cylindrical cam stud 57 having a larger portion of its integral head 58 cut to be described.

away, thus leaving top slide guide means in the form of two outstanding points 59 thereon to overlay the to surfaces of two movable, pivoted bridge engaging mute jaw carrying slides 60. (S1 to hold them in operative slieing bridge engaging and disengaging positions.

One of the jaw slides 60 has an inwardly extending bored pivot ear 62 thereon, with a similar ear 33 on the companion jaw member (51. The ear 63 thickened whereby, as at H, Figs. 17 and 19, to form a supporting platform for the mounting thereon, at a proper level, the manipulating levers, later The under side of the ear (S3 is recessed as shown dotted at 64: to form an inset seat to receive the ear 62 therein to form a bottom flush jui'icture.

The outer ends of the jaw slides 60, 61 are provided with a pair of substantially cylindrical bridge engaging jaws 66, which are slotted to be mounted in edge engagement with the members 60, 61, as shown, and are provided with set screws 67 to removably lock them on the slides 60, (31 in operative outer position, as shown. These jaws 66 may also be removed and replaced by other jaws, as previously described, for the same reasons.

The jaw slides are further provided on their inner faces with cam-like edges 67a which, when in mounted assembly, contact and coordinate with the cylindrical cam pin 57, on opposite sides, so that sliding movement later to be described causes the jaws 66 to be diverged from each other into opposed leg gripping posit-ion, interiorly at B, of the bridge 1, as shown in. Fig. 16.

The slide members 60, 61 are also provided with tapped holes 68 to receive therein screws 69, they in turn being connected to each other by a still coiled spring 70, Figs. 15 to 17, whereby to stress the slide arms (50, 61 constantly toward each other against pin 57.

As a means for moving the slide arms to and from the bridge a from position shown in Fig. 15 to muting engagement as in Figs. 16 and 17, there is shown a manually movable lever 70, having an upstanding pivoted handle 71 on its outer end, the inner end thereof being pivotally fulcrumed by a head crew 72 to the support 7 by the tapped hole About midway of its length the lever has located a connecting screw pivot 74 which in turn also pivotally connects at its outer end a drag lever 75. The inner end of the drag lever is slotted as at 76, and at this point is joined to the headed pivot screw 77 which in turn connects, in the order given, the slide (51 through bored ear 63, the slide 60, through bored car (32, and the support 7 through slot 54, terminating in a head 78 beneath the support 7, as in Fig. 17. Thus, the assembly is completed.

In operation of this latter modification, the mode is as described for the previous showing.

The hand lever 70, 71 is adjacent the hand of the player for instant application or removal for applying the mute.

The mute members 66 operate by sliding into a forward expanding movement to firmly grip the inside faces of the legs of the bridge and are thus wedged by this action and this action is assisted by the fulcrum of the tapering cam edges 67a of the slides 60, 61 hearing against the cam pin 57. The noses of the mute jaws 66 are preferably coned or tapered to insure easy entrance into the space E between the legs of the bridge.

In both structures, as described, it will be noted that the mute and mute control means are all located between the vellum 3 and the strings, but are so mounted as to be clear of the strings and vellum. and are thus supported in ready muting, bridge engaging and disengaging position at all times, without contact upon or with an; resonating portion of the instrument, except the bridge, when applied.

It will thus be noted that I have provided a quick acting mute which becomes a permanent part of the instrument, thus enlarging the performance of the player by further amplifying the possibilities of variation of tone volume and quality.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a muting device for a stringed musical instrument, a tail piece, a base plate at the inner end thereof, connected thereto and supported thereby out of contact with the body of the instrument, a pair of mute carrier plates, slidably mounted on said base plate, each of said carrier plates having thereon a bridge gripping member at one end thereof, and means on said base plate for causing said carrier plates with said members thereon to slide in opposite directions on said base plate, thereby moving said members towards or away from each other and into and out of contact with the bridge of said instrument.

2. In a muting device for a stringed musical instrument, a tail piece, a base plate at the inner end thereof, adjustably connected thereto and supported thereby out of contact with the body of the instrument, said adjustable connection adapt-ing said device to fit instruments of different sizes, a pair of mute carrier plates, slidably mounted on said base plate, each of said carrier plates having thereon at one end thereof bridge gripping means, and means on said base plate for causing said carrier plates with said bridge gripping means thereon to slide in opposite direct-ions, thereby moving said gripping means towards or away from each other and into or out of contact with the bridge of said instrument.

3. In a muting device for a stringed musical instrument, a tail piece, a base plate at the inner end thereof, supported thereby out of contact with the body of the instrument, a pair of mute carrier plates, slidably mounted on said base plate, each of said carrier plates having thereon at one end thereof a bridge gripping member, means on said base plate for causing said carrier plates to slide in op posite directions, thereby moving said members towards or away from each other and into or out of contact with the bridge of the instrument, means for adjustably connecting said base plate to said tail piece and means for adjustably varying the inclination of said base plate with relation to the top plane of the bridge.

4. In a muting device for a stringed musical instrument, a tail piece, a base plate at the inner end thereof supported thereby out of contact with the body of the instrument, said plate having on its opposite sides upwardly extending flanges to serve as slide guides, a pair of mute carrier plates, slidably mounted on said base plate between said flanges, each of said carrier plates having at P one end thereof a bridge engaging member, and a manually operated means for causing said carrier plates to slide in opposite directions on said base plate, thereby moving said members towards or away from each ether and into or out of contact with the brid e of the instrument.

5. 111 a muting device for stringedmusi'cal, instruments, atail piece, a base plate at the inner'end, thereof, connected thereto, and, su ported therebyont of Contact with the ho of" the instrument, said base plate having thereon a pairof upwardly extending flanges onoppositesides thereof, a, pair of carrier plates, slidably mounted on said base plate, between said, flanges, each of said carrier plates having thereon a bridge enga ing member, an operating lever and a control ing lever, pivotally mounted on said base plate, said operatin lever being connected on opposite sideso the pivot thereofto said carrier plates, wherebyby the rotationthereo-f to slide the latter in opposite directions on said base plate, thereby moving said members towards or away: from each other and into or out of contact with said bridge, a resilient means, disposed for normally keeping said members out of contact; with said bridge, and said controlling lever havin thereon a cam in, contact with apart on sai opei'ating'lever, the outlineof said cam be? ing disposed, in cooperation with said resilient, means, frictionally to hold" said operating l'everagainstoverhauling, whereby said members may be retained in any desired muting or unmuting position with relation to said bridge.

6. In a muting musical instrument, a tail piece, a base plate at the inner end thereof, adjustably connected thereto and supported thereby out of contact with the body of the instrument, said device for a stringed,

adjustable connection adapting said device a to fit instruments of different sizes, a pair of mute carrier plates, slidably mounted on said base plate, each of said carrier plates having thereon at one end thereof bridge gripping means, and means on said base plate 3 for causing said carrier plates with said bridge gripping means thereon to slide in opposite directions, thereby moving said gripping means towards or away from each other and into or out of contact with the bridge of said instrument, combined with a means for adjustably connecting said tail piece to the body of the instrument, whereby said muting device may be applied to instruments having different nodal points.

7. A mute for stringed musical instruments, including a tail piece and a bridge, a bridge engaging mute carried by a part on said tail piece, means for adjustably fixing said tail piece to instruments of different dimensions, and means carried by said tail iece and mute for varying the distance therebetween, thereby to position said bridge to the nodal point of said instrument when the mute is operated.

8, A mute for stringed musical instruments, including a bridge for said strings, comprising a tail piece, a bridge engaging mute carried thereby, and means on said tail piece for axially adjusting said tail piece to the instrument.

9. In a muting device for a stringed musical instrument, a tail piece, a base plate at the inner end thereof, connected thereto and supported thereby out of contact with the body of the instrument, a pair of mute carrier plates, slidably mounted on said base plate, each of said carrier plates having thereon a bridge gripping member at one end thereof, and means on said base plate for causing said carrier plates with said members thereon to slide in opposite directions on said base plate, thereby moving said members towards or away from each other and into and out of contact with the bridge of said instrument, combined with a resilient means connected to said carrier plates for normally keeping said members out of contact with said bridge and a frictional means for cooperating with said resilient means for holding said members in any desired position with relation to said bridge.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York this 18th day of June A. D. 1929.

ROBERT R. PAGE. 

